Rodriguez , CSKA hand Panathinaikos its first home loss

In a classic battle that went down to the wire, CSKA Moscow sent Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens to its first home defeat of the season, a 70-75 decision on Friday night in the Greek capital. CSKA improved to 15-4 on the season, two games clear at the top of the standings, while Panathinaikos dropped to 12-7 in a share of the fourth place. After a tight first half, it was pure excitement in the second. Panathinaikos opened a 10-point early in the third quarter, but CSKA caught up before the end of the quarter. The teams traded blows in the fourth, before the visitors went on a 3-10 run to open a 63-71 margin. The lead almost disappeared, but Sergio Rodriguez hit a game-deciding triple with 49 seconds to go to help CSKA hold on. Rodriguez finished with 21 points on 4-for-6 from three-point land. Cory Higgins had 14 points, Othello Hunter added 12, and Nando De Colo 10 in victory. Nikos Pappas was the top scorer for the hosts with 14 points, while Nick Calathes collected 13 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. Thanasis Antetokounmpo also scored 13, while K.C. Rivers netted 11 points with 6 rebounds in his team’s first home loss of the season.

Panathinaikos opened the game with Antetokounmpo scoring inside, and Chris Singleton knocking one down from the long range. Calathes threw the first in a series of alley-oop passes to Antetokounmpo, CSKA answered through De Colo and Higgins, but the hosts stayed in front behind two more Calathes to Antetokounmpo alley-oops. Panathinaikos had a 16-10 lead, only for a triple from Rodriguez to cut the deficit to a single point, before Pappas and Calathes made it 20-15 after 10 minutes. The game continued at a slower tempo in the second quarter, with CSKA going inside to Hunter who scored 6 straight points to help the visitors to a 22-25 lead. Gist had a three-point play, before Hunter had a dunk on one side, and Antetokounmpo another alley-oop slam on the other, to knot it at 27-27. CSKA kept control with Rodriguez and Hunter, and went into halftime up 29-31.

The second half started in a totally opposite manner. After Rodriguez and Rivers traded triples, Hunter scored in traffic to make it 34-36. However, Rivers answered with a tough jumper, and Calathes hit a long triple. Antetokounmpo's dunk and a triple from Rivers opened a 46-36 lead. But Rodriguez hit a jumper and a triple to snap a 12-0 run, followed by Higgins and De Colo hitting a triple each, tying the game at 49-49. Before the end of the quarter Pappas made a tough runner, and Kyle Hines took it to the rim, to make it 51-51 after 30 minutes. CSKA regained the lead at the start of the fourth with a layup from Will Clyburn, before the teams started trading baskets, exchanging one-point leads. Pappas scored on consecutive possessions for Panathinaikos, but Clyburn and Rodriguez had immediate answers on the other end, giving CSKA a 58-59 lead. After Higgins and Pappas traded baskets, CSKA found a way to stop the hosts defensively, and out of it got a coast-to-coast basket from Higgins. Calathes hit a downtown dagger for the hosts, but De Colo answered right back with a three, and Higgins hit a wide-open triple to make it 63-71 with 2:59 to go. After a timeout, Rivers nailed another triple, and Pappas scored 3 of 3 free throws to make it 69-71 with exactly 2 minutes left on the clock. The score remained the same entering the final minute, when Rodriguez nailed a three-pointer as the shot-clock was expiring, giving CSKA enough breathing room to hold on for victory.

Head Coaches

PASCUAL, XAVI

Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens

“Thanks to all the fans because they created an incredible atmosphere. Congratulations to CSKA for the win. It was a game we lost in the second quarter when we could not score in some easy situations. We missed four easy layups, four three-pointers completely alone. Also, when we took a 10-point lead in the third quarter, we did not have luck. We had an incredible atmosphere and were playing very well, but play stopped for several minutes for a review. After that Singleton got a third personal foul, CSKA took one offensive rebound, we missed a layup, they scored a three-pointer and CSKA came back into the game. We had chances to win, but De Colo and Rodriguez scored in the last second of their possessions. That just shows why they are maybe the best players in Europe. But I am proud of my players and what they are doing. We have to keep going.”

ITOUDIS, DIMITRIS

CSKA Moscow

“I would like to congratulate my team. We won against a great opponent, which had a streak of 15 wins at home, if I am not mistaken. Such an incredible crowd gives them an amazing boost. I want to give a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to the fans for a warm welcome. The 13 years we had together was important to them, and to us. The game was very interesting, both teams would have deserved to win. There were different momentums in the game, but definitely when Panathinaikos was up by 10 points, we kept believing in our opportunities, and we kept defending, which is something that gave us the win tonight. In the first game against Panathinaikos in Moscow we kept them at 63 points. They are a different team and much better now, but we kept them at 70 points. This is just a win, in a marathon. However, it is an important win, especially in the psychological end. And it was important to see an intention to succeed in my players’ eyes, even though we went out of our comfort zone. Many of my players went out of their comfort zone. And they defended well.”

Players

SINGLETON, CHRIS

Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens

“It was a fight. Rodriguez really showed up, and hit some tough shots, especially in the second half. But I like what our team did. We just need to concentrate and execute at the end of the game. Maybe have better ball movement. But I like our team. I like the way we fought tonight.”

RODRIGUEZ, SERGIO

CSKA Moscow

“It is always a battle here in OAKA, it is a great atmosphere. We knew they played well here, and did not lose at home in a long time. It is a big win. Playing and winning these kind of games will give us a lot of confidence.”